There are problems with the I-405 HOT lanes.

The limited entry and exit points make commuting worse.

Previously, my husband and I could enter the freeway at the 195th/Beardslee on-ramp in Bothell (where we live) and merge over a couple of lanes into the HOV lanes before the 522 flyover. Now, we enter the freeway in the same place but, 1) the traffic in the general purpose (GP) lanes is significantly heavier and slower, 2) we are forced to continue traveling in the slow GP lanes until the 160th/Brickyard (entry point three) area because that is the closest legal entry point to the HOT lanes from our entry point on to I-405, and 3) of course we now have to pay for something that was free, which we have decided we are willing to do to shorten our commute time.

The only way for us to get in the HOT lanes sooner is to use neighborhood surface streets to travel north to the Canyon Park on-ramp so we can get in the HOT lanes at entry point two. This means we will have to deal with busy morning neighborhood traffic, including school zones and we will add yet one more car to surface street congestion.

We are either stuck sitting in GP traffic until we can legally enter the HOT lanes at entry point three or stuck in neighborhood surface street traffic while we travel north on back roads so we can get on southbound interstate in order to access HOT lanes at entry point two.

So although we were “doing the right thing” before by carpooling, we get penalized twice with the new HOT lanes in that we are forced to drive in the slower GP lanes for a longer period of time and we now pay for what previously was free (or alternatively, we can drive north on neighborhood surface streets so we can then drive south on the interstate but legally access the HOT lanes sooner). So much for “doing the right thing” and so much for the HOT lanes making things better, on the interstate and/or neighborhood surface streets.

Today, I also read in the Seattle Time that the buses can now use the road shoulder in certain areas to get through during heavy congestion. I think that speaks volumes about congestion with the new HOT system. I also think that is extremely unsafe. And if the buses can “bend the rules” because of congestion then why can’t I (the average commuter) bend the rules and jump in the HOT lanes as soon as I can rather than at the legal entry point. My rationalization is I am making the GP traffic better by getting out of the GP lanes and into the HOT lanes as soon as possible although not at a legal entry point but hey, if the bus can ride on the shoulder due to congestion then traffic rules are now more of a guideline, right? Am I going to do that? No, because I would get a ticket for breaking the rules. HOT has not made our commutes better, it has made it worse and more costly.

Jennifer Lebeau, Bothell